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Texas HC Sean Miller Rips Team's Defense After Loss to Florida
Miller calls out Longhorns' lack of effort and pride on the defensive end in SEC matchup.
Feb. 26, 2026 at 3:39am
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Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller was highly critical of his team's defensive performance following their loss to the No. 7 Florida Gators on Wednesday night. Miller called out his players' effort and lack of pride on the defensive end, saying some players seemed to give up easy baskets instead of fighting through possessions.
Why it matters
The Longhorns' defensive struggles against a top-10 opponent like Florida highlight the challenges Miller faces in his first season rebuilding the program. Texas sits in the middle of the SEC standings, and Miller is trying to instill a tougher defensive identity to get the team back to the NCAA Tournament.
The details
Texas led 39-36 at halftime but was outscored 48-32 in the second half as Florida pulled away. Miller said some of his players seemed to give up easy baskets, lacking the effort and pride needed to get key stops down the stretch. Four Texas players scored in double figures, led by Dailyn Swain's 21 points, but the Longhorns' defense couldn't contain the Gators.
- The game was played on Wednesday, February 26, 2026.
The players
Sean Miller
The head coach of the Texas Longhorns men's basketball team, who is in his first season leading the program after previous stints at Xavier and Arizona.
Dailyn Swain
A Texas player who led the team with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 3 steals in the loss to Florida.
Tramon Mark
A Texas player who scored 15 points in the loss to Florida.
Jordan Pope
A Texas player who scored 14 points in the loss to Florida.
Mata Vokietaitis
A Texas player who scored 12 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in the loss to Florida.
What they’re saying
“We can put a defensive highlight film together of a guy giving up about 300 points. I mean, some of it comes from within. It's like, I'm guarding you, it's February 26, I've been at this a long time, I'll be damned if you're going by me There's a little bit of that going on, finishing games, playing on the road, being able to rise to the challenge of March Madness.”
— Sean Miller, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns
“Nobody gives you that, you have to take it. That's where we're at — we have to be able to take that finishing a game, getting big stops, guys making plays, having pride, playing for each other, so that we can get those key stops, and take the game, instead of toward the eight-minute mark, we can play it all the way to the end. So look, we're trying to cultivate that as well here down the stretch.”
— Sean Miller, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns
What’s next
The Longhorns will look to bounce back in their next game, a road matchup against the Texas A&M Aggies on February 28th at 4 p.m. ET.
The takeaway
Sean Miller's fiery comments highlight the defensive deficiencies he is trying to address in his first season as Texas' head coach. Rebuilding the Longhorns' identity and toughness on that end of the floor will be crucial if they hope to make a push for the NCAA Tournament in the competitive SEC.
